Novamycin Technology Summary

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Candidacidal cationic peptide (approximately 2 kDa)
Rapid in vitro fungicial activity
Mode of action identified
No resistance development observed in vitro
Active against Candida spp. that are resistant/insensitive to conventional antifungals
Active against other clinically relevant yeasts and moulds (Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, Fusarium etc).
Equally effective against metabolically active and inactive yeast isolates
Novamycin® derived from the same platform technology as the clinical stage antifungal compound Novexatin®

Novamycin® has thus far demonstrated fungicidal activity in vitro against all major clinically relevant Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis), including those resistant (innate or acquired) to conventional systemic antifungal therapies. NovaBiotics' technology is also active against Aspergillus niger and Cryptococcus neoformans. The antifungal potential of NovaBiotics' peptides against other relevant systemic fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. is also under investigation.

Preliminary experiments have confirmed that Novamycin® is well tolerated at doses significantly greater than anticipated therapeutic levels and is effective in reducing fungal burden in a relevant in vivo model.

Novamycin® retains activity in saliva

Retains activity in saliva

Efficacy in saliva suggests application for Novamycin® in oropharangeal candidiasis (OPC)

Candidacidal activity of Novamycin® in an in vivo model of acute candidiasis

Efficacy of a single dose of Novamycin® (1 mg/kg) demonstrated in an in vivo model of disseminated C. albicans infection versus amphotericin B (5 mg/kg).

Mode of Action

The primary mode of action of Novamycin® is membranolysis (membrane perturbation and disruption). Novamycin® is rapidly fungicidal, killing yeasts within 30 minutes of exposure. Novamycin® does not require target microbes to be metabolically active to exert its fungicidal effects and remains active against its fungal targets in the presence of (>physiological) salt and in serum.

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Spectrum of Activity

Novamycin® is an antifungal peptide with greatest activity observed against clinically relevant yeast, including Candida spp, Cryptococcus spp and Trichosporon spp. For all 122 yeast isolates tested thus far, the median MIC100 has been 2-4 µg/ml. Novamycin® also demonstrates significant antifungal activity against filamentous fungi from clinically relevant genera.

Novamycin® is a fungicidal peptide with the minimal fungicidal concentration against C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis within one 2-fold dilution of the MIC100. Susceptibility to Novamycin® is observed in clinical fungal isolates known to be resistant to conventional therapies.

The antifungal susceptibility profile of Novamycin® against >80 clinical isolates of Candida spp were determined using CLSI Approved Standard M27-A3.

Candida species MIC

MICs (100% kill) ranged from 1 - >512 µM.

Dose dependent candidacidal activity of Novamycin®

Novamycin MIC